Coin-controlled billiard table



Sept. 29, 1942. M. vENl-:Rl

COIN-CONTROLLED BILLIARD TABLE Filed July 12, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 sheets-sheet 2 o Qm, mw 4.. N... m., e e.

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M. VENERI COIN-CONTROLLED BILLIAR) TABLE Filed July 12, 1939 v mn ww/ f sept. 29,1942.

Sept. 29, 1942. M. vENERl Y COIN-CONTROLLED BILLIARD TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 12, 1959 Mv M. NN

Sept. 29, 1942. M. vENERl COIN-CONTROLLED BLLIARD TABLE Filed July 12, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 COIN-CONTROLLED BILLIABD TABLE Modesto Veneti, Sinalunga, Italy; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application July 12, 1939, Serial No. 284,136 In Italy July 14, 1938 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to. apparatus applied to billiard tables for limiting the time of use thereof in correspondence with the amount paid. In carrying out the invention any type of game on a billiard-table is prevented before the introduction of a coin into the apparatus for the amount corresponding `to the length of time it is desired to play and which amount is fixed with respect to the various types of coins according to the rate adopted in the place where the billiard tables have been set up The main purpose of the invention is obtained by disposing a series of bars along the cushions of the billiard-table, which bars in a normal position project from the surface of the billiard-table at about half of the height of the cushions so that rebounding of the billiard balls is prevented. When the coin is introduced into the apparatus, these bars move down onto the surface of the billiard-table and remain in such a position so that the balls may rebound against the elastic cushion without engaging the bars. A time control device may be placed beneath the table and is thus completely hidden, on the outside appearing merely the slot for the introduction of the coin and a pointer which serves to adjust the apparatus in correspondence with the time it is desired to play.

In the device according to the invention there are provided electric contact members by means of which the players are advised of the proximate end of the play-period and without any interruption they may extend this period by introducing another coin into the apparatus.

According to a preferred form of the invention the time regulating mechanism comprises aboard on which is provided the slot for introducing the coin, such. board bearing a pointer which may assume various positions in relation to the values of the coins. The apparatus includes a clockwork mechanism which regulates the play-period with respect to time.

The displacement of the pointer on the board controls the disposition of a stepped plate, which after the coin having established the contact and a control rod of the clockwork mechanism having been displaced, regulates the amplitude of the displacement of the control rod and consequently the length of the play-period. The positions of the pointer indicate the type of coin to be used and with coins of a higher value there corresponds a greater distance of the elements between which the coins must establish the contact and if a coin of a value less than the one indicated by the pointer is introduced in the apparatus, such coin passes idly between the contact elements.

Other features and objects of the inventionwill be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description wherein an exemplary embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section illustrating the general organization of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the timing mechanism showing the association thereof with a billiard-table, parts of which are represented in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3a is a sectional view of the clockwork mechanism and taken on the line IIIa-IIIa of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of part of the control mechanism illustrating portions of Fig. 1 on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 with various elements thereof removed to clearly illustrate means for moving one of the contact members.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of parts of the control mechanism illustrating means for controlling various circuits of the electrical system.

Fig. -7 is a perspective view of a billiard-table showing the control mechanism dissociated therewith,

With reference to the drawings, the device according to the invention is constituted by a frame I which is applied to a billiard-table in the manner indicated in Fig. 7. The frame I is supported by a cross bar 4 and is xed to the cross bar and to the frame of the billiard-table by means of the bolts 3 as shown in Fig. 2. On the outside merely appears a board 5 with an element 6 for the introduction of the coin and a pointer I which has some determined positions, in correspondence with a similar number of values indicated on the board 5.

The frame I supports the time regulating mechanism which drives a shaft 8 Imounted in movable manner at III as shown in Fig. 3 on the frame portions 9 of the billiard-table. At the two ends of the shaft 8 there are fixed by means of the screws I2 eccentric members II which possess an inclined end adapted to bear against a lower cross bar I3, which by means of upright pins I4 transversing the top of the billiardtable, supports the -little bars I5 for preventing a game of biiliards on the table. When in the condition of rest, or after'the shaft 8 has been turned to the lett when looking at Fig. 2,- the little bars I rest on the suri'ace oi the `billiardtable as indicated at I5'. In this position o! the bars I8 a billiard-ball I1 may engage the cushion I8 as shown at I1', and the ball I1 under these conditions does not engage the little bars I5 in the position I5.

Should the shaft 8 be turned to the right in Fig. 2. however, in the manner which will be explained later on, the curved end oi the members Il raise the cross-bar I3 and thus the little bars I5 are moved against the elastic cushion I8 at about half of its height, so that the rebounding oi the balls I1 against the cushion is prevented and, therefore, it is impossible to carry out a game with the balls I1.

The pointer 1 is connected to a shaft I8 mounted in a movable manner on frame 2 of the billiard-table and in a bracket I9 oi the upright 28, iixed to the frame I. The shaft I8 on the inside of the U-shaped bracket I9 is provided with an eccentric 2l oi square section which cooperates with a leaf-spring 22 iixed to the two arms or the bracket I9 as shown in Fig. 1. 0n the shaft I8 is xed a flexible cord 23 which is wound up around the pulley 24 and terminates at the end of a rod 25 as shown in Fig. 4. The rod 25 is pivoted at 28 on the frame of the mechanism and at its other end it is guided in a member 21. The rod 25 is provided with a pivot-like connection 28 and a small rod 29 guided by an element 38 oi insulating material and carrying a stepped plate 3I shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. 'I'he end oi.' the rod 25 is urged towards the element 38 by a spring 33 which is anchored on the small block 38.

From the receiving element 8 the coins pass into a funnel 34 which has the form shown in Fig. 2 and terminates in a reception member 35 as shown in Fig. 3 of insulating material :dxed on the support 36. On the support 36, furthermore, is xed a contact 31 disposed in a slightly inclined manner. The contact 31 cooperates with another contact 38 pivoted at 39 on the lever 25 and continuously urged by a spring 48 against the support 36.

As can be seen from Fig. 4 the various positions of the pointer 1 correspond to positions of the lever 25 and thus of the contact 38. Since the contact 31 is iixed, the distance left from between the two contacts 31 and 38 varies and therefore varies likewise the type of coin 4I to be utilized for operating the apparatus in corre.

spondence with the values indicated on the board 5. Should an attempt be made to operate the apparatus by a coin which is of a smaller size than the one indicated by pointer 1, this coin passes idly without bridging the contacts 31 and 38 and falls into the collecting receptacle 42 without having any bearing, since between the elements 31 and 38 there is a larger space than the diameter of such coin.

On the frame I is mounted an electromagnet 43 the armature 44 of which is urged out oi the coil by a spring 45. The armature 44 is provided with a roller 46 which acts on a lever 41 pivoted at 48 on the frame I and its movement towards the right in Fig. 1 is limited by a stop 44a. The lever 41 acts on a roller 49 of a control rod 58 which has a. rack 5I adapted to cooperate with a toothed wheel 5Ia driven by the clockwork mechanism 52. The control rod 58 is guided within the metallic blocks 53 curved element 55 as shown in Fig. 2 designed to cooperate with a roller 58 mounted at the end of an angle lever 51 pivoted at 58 on the support 58 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction on the pivot 88 by a spring 51a. The other end of the lever 81 is provided with a tooth 88 adapted to engage in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 witha projection 8I provided on the lower part 'of a rod 82, mounted at its two ends on the supports 83 and 84 carried by the frame I.

The rod 82 is urged towards the right by a spring anchored on the support 58. The rod 82 carries a roller 88 adapted to cooperate with a curved part 81 oi' a lever 88 ilxed on the rotative shaft 8 which as hereinabove described controls the movement oi' the little bars I8. The movement of the rod 82 towards the right is regulated by a projection 89.

The movement of the rod 82 towards the left is operated by an electromagnet 18 the armature 1I of which is urgedtowards the outside of the coil by a spring 12. The armature 1I is provided with a roller 18 which engages a lower attachment 14 of the rod 82 and thus when the electromagnet 18 is energized the rod 82 is displaced towards the left.

The excitation of the electromagnet 18 is controlled by an arm 15 pivotally mounted. at 18 on the insulating support in 11 and urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 18. The arm 15 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction yby means of a lug 81a adjustably mounted on the rod 82. The lower end of the arm 15 is provided with a contact screw 19, which by means of the conductor 88, shown in Fig. 1, is connected to one oi the terminals 8| of the electromagnet 18. The other terminal 82 o1' the electromagnet is connected by a conductor 83 to one of the contacts 84 of a common plug ilxed on the insulating support 36.

'I'he right end of the control rod 58 is bent downwardly as indicated in 88 and has a little block of insulating material by meansof which it is capable of moving a contact 85 carried by a contact spring 89 mounted on an insulating blocky 81 in such a. manner as to move the contact 85 into engagement with a screw 18. The contact 85 is connected by a conductor 86a to the other contact 81 of the plug. When the rod 58 is reconducted into its normal position by the clockwork mechanism 52, it can easily be seen how the end. 88 eiiects the contact between the elements 85 and 19 and thus closes the excitation circuit for the electromagnet -18 through a circuit including the contact 81, conductor 86a, contact 85. contact 19, conductor 88, terminal 8|, winding of the electromagnet 18, terminal 82, conductor 83, and the contact 84. The electro-magnet 18 thus attracts the armature 1I and moves the rod 82 against the action of the spring 85 until the projection 6I engages the tooth 68 oi.' the lever 51 and thus stops the rod 62. 'I'he lateral attachment 81a when the rod 62 by means of the electromagnet 18 is displaced towards the left, acts upon the upper end of the arms 15 to move the same against the action of the spring 18, so that the contacts 18 and 85vare opened and the electromagnet 18 is de-energized and the armature 1I moves to the external position through the action of the spring 12.

A mechanism for controlling the duration of the game in dependence on the value of the coin introduced is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 wherein and 54 and close to its right end it carries e. 75 a second stepped plate 88a is mounted on the stepped plate 3|. 'Ihe plate 88a is guided by an element 89 and a screw 90. 'I'he outer shape of the plate 88a is identical to the lplate 3l. The plate 88a is urged towards the right by a spring 9|. The plate 88a is provided with an attachment 92 which can act upon a rod 93 guided by screws 94 and 95 and carrying on the left-hand end thereof an insulating element 96, by means of which it may displace the contact element 38 in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 40, when plate 88a is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 4 and v5.

When the electromagnet 43 is excited in the manner described in the following, the control rod 50 is displaced by the lever 41 towards the left up to the point permitted by a tooth of the plate 3| which is engaged by the end 88 of the rod 50. Since the position of the plate 3| is controlled by the pointer 1 in conformity with the type of money introduced, the displacement amplitude of the rod 50 towards the left is controlled accordingly. Owing to the connection between the control rod 50 and the clockwork-mechanism 52, the rod 50 needs a longer or shorter time for returning to its extreme right-hand position, and the play-period allowed is shorter or longer since, as it will be seen from the following, when rod 50 returns to its extreme right-hand position, the little bars I5 are operated in such a manner as to prevent engagement of the balls |1 with the cushion I6.

However, before the end 88 of the lever 50 during its movement towards the left engages the corresponding tooth of the plate 3|, it strikes the plate 88a and displaces the same towards the left for a length corresponding to which this plate projects beyond the plate 3|. During this movement the attachment 92 is moved to the position indicated at 92 and thus displaces the insulating element 96 to the position represented at 96 in Fig. 5 in such a manner that the contact element 38 is rotated suilciently to permit the coin, which had been between the contact element 38 and the contact element 31, to fall into the collecting receptacle 42.

In its middle part the rod 50 is provided with a further element of insulating material 91 on which is mounted at 98 a pawl 99 as shown in Fig. 6 which is able to rotate freely in a counterclockwise direction but is prevented from rotating in an opposite direction by means of a pin |00. The pawl 99 cooperates with a contact spring mounted above another contact spring |02 on the insulating plate |03. When the control rod 50 is displaced towards the left, the pawl 99 rotates without difculty and no contact is eiected, however, when rod 50 returns towards the right, a short time before effecting the contact between the elements 85 and 19, or a certain period of time before the play is interrupted, the pawl 99 engages the spring |0| and effects contact thereof with the spring |02. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6 the spring 0| is connected by means of a conductor |04 to a bell |05, which, by means of a conductor |06, is connected to the contact 84. The other contact 81 is connected to the lower spring |02 by means of a conductor |01. position, the bell emits an acoustic signal and should the players desire to prolongate the period of time allowed, without interrupting the game, they can immediately introduce a new coin.

A circuit for the electromagnet 43 includes a terminal |08 directly connected to the contact If the rod 50 reaches the above mentioned 84 of thev plug through a conductor |09. The other terminal ||0 of the coil 43 is connected to the contact element 31 by a conductor and thus by a coin 4| to the other contact element 38 which is connected to the other contact 81 of the plug by means of a conductor |2.

When introducing a coin of the size indicated by the position of the pointer 1 into the aperture 6, the coin disposes itself in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 and eiects the electric contact between the elements 31 and 38. 'Ihus the circuit for the electromagnet 43 is closed, which latter attracts the armature 44, causing the lever 41 to swing to the left in Fig. 1 and displaces the control rod 50 towards the left, up'to the point allowed by the position of plate 3|. The roller 56 of the lever 51 rolls on the inclined guide 55 and the tooth 60 frees the rod 62 for displacement towards the right by the spring 65. The rod 8 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2 and the little bars l5 fall on the surface of the billiard-table.

When a period of time has elapsed which is controlled by the clockwork-mechanism 52, de-

pending on the displacement amplitude of the rod 50 which returns backwards with uniform motion, the pawl 99 causes the spring |0| to close the contact with the spring |02 and the bell |05 is energized to provide the acoustic sig'nal. Should the players desire to proceed with the game they may introduce a fresh coin into the aperture 6, and the electromagnet 43 thus becoming excited and the cycle of operation as described above is repeated. Should the play be terminated, the rod 50 proceeds in its displacement towards the rightand the contacts and 13 are closed. The electromagnet 10 is then excited and the rod 62 is displaced and consequently the little bars |5 are raised to prevent engagement of the balls |1 with the cushion I6. It has already been seen from the above how the electromagnet 10 is de-energized by rotation of the lever 15. It will be noted that the tooth 60 may engage the projection 6| in the extreme rightl hand position of the rod 50 as illustrated in Fig. A2 since the roller 56 does not find any obstacle against its downward displacement on the part of the inclined guide 55.

The present invention has been illustrated and described in a preferred form of realization, but it is understood that constructive variations may be applied thereto in practice without exceeding the scope of protection of the present patent.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a coin controlled billiard table having a flat surface, an elastic cushion extending upwardly from the table surface and adapted to be engaged by balls rolling on the table surface, non-resilient means arranged adjacent the surface of the table and longitudinally of the cushion so that the balls may engage the cushion when rolling on the table surface without engaging said non-resilient means, means for raising said non-resilient means to a position along the cushion whereby the balls rolling on the table surface engage the non-resilient means without engaging the cushion, and detent means for maintaining said non-resilient means in a raised position.

2. In a coin controlled billiard table having a surface, an elastic cushion having an inner u per edge-disposed above the surface of the table so that the upper inner edge of the cushion is engaged by balls rolling on the table surface, a bar arranged adjacent the table surface extending longitudinally of the cushion and under the upper'inner edge thereof so that the balls when rolling on the table surface may engage the upper inner edge of the cushion without engaging the bar, means for raising said bar to a position above the table surface whereby the balls rolling on the table surface are prevented from engaging the upper edge of said cushion, and means for maintaining said bar in the raised position.

3. In a coin controlled billiard table having a hat surface, a plurality of elastic cushions each having an upper inner edge positioned above the surface of the table so that the upper inner edges of the cushions may be engaged by balls rolling on the table surfacel a plurality of bars, one of said bars being arranged longitudinally of each cushion and under the upper inner edge of each cushion so that the balls when rolling on the table surface may engage the upper inner edges of said cushions without engaging said bars, means for simultaneously raising said bars above the surface of the table to positions where the balls rolling on the table are prevented from engaging said cushions, and means for maintaining said bars in said raised positions.

4. In a coin controlled billiard table having a flat surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged by balls rolling on the table surface, non-resilient means arranged adjacent the surface of the table and longitudinally of the cushion so that the balls may engage the cushion when rolling on the table surface without engaging said non-resilient means, means for raising said non-resilient means to a position along the cushion whereby the balls rolling on the table surface engage the non-resilient means without engaging the cushion, detent means for maintaining said non-resilient means in a raised position, means for releasing said detent means, and yieldable means for moving said raisingA means to an inoperative position whereby the nonresilient means moves towards the table surface so that the balls vmay engage said cushion.

5. In a coin controlled billiard table having a flat surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged by balls rolling on the surface of the table, rigid means arranged longitudinally of the cushion and adjacent the surface of the table so that the balls may engage the cushion when rolling on the table surface without engaging said rigid means, electro-magnetic means including a rod for raising said rigid means to a position along the cushion where the balls rolling on the table surface are prevented from engaging said cushion, detent means retaining said rod in a position for maintaining said rigid means in said raised position, means for releasing said detent means, and yieldable means for moving said rod to an inoperative position whereby said rigid means may move to a position along said table surface.

6. In a coin controlled billiard table having a flat surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged by balls rolling on the surface of the table, a bar arranged longitudinally of the cushion, electro-magnetic means for raising said bar to a position along the cushion where the balls when rolling on the table are prevented from engaging the cushion, detent means for maintaining the bar in said raised position, coin controlled means for releasing said detent means,

and means for actuating said electro-magnet to lraise said bar to a position along the. cushion for preventing the balls rolling on the table from engaging said cushion.

7. In a billiard-table, a top for the table having a fiat surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged above the top of the table by a ball rolling on the fiat surface thereof, said top having a vertical opening therein, a pin movable vertically within said opening, a bar connected to an upperyend of said pin resting on the surface of the top and positioned so that the ball may engage the cushion above the bar and rebound from the cushion without engaging the bar, and means for moving said pin upwardly to position the bar along the cushion so that the ball engages the bar in rolling towards the cushion,

8. In a billiard-table, a frame including a top for the table having a fiat surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged above the table top by a ball rolling on the flat surface thereof, said top having spaced vertical openings therein, a pin movably mounted within each opening. a bar connected to upper ends of said pins resting on the surface of said top and so positioned that the ball may engage the cushion above the bar and rebound from the cushion without engaging the bar, a shaft rotatable in the frame, a transverse bar connecting the pins below the table top, an eccentric member carried by the shaft for engaging the transverse bar, and means for rotating said shaft for moving said pins upwardly to position the first bar along the cushion so that the ball will engage the bar in rolling towards the cushion.

9. In a billiard-table, a frame including a top for the table having a nat surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged above the table top by a ball rolling on the flat surface th'ereof, said top having spaced vertical openings therein, a pin movably mounted within each opening, a bar connected to upper ends of said pins resting on the surface of said top and so positioned that the ball may engage the cushion above the bar and rebound from the cushion without engaging the bar, a-shaft rotatable in the frame, a transverse bar connecting the pins below the table top, an eccentric member carried by the shaft for engaging the transverse bar, a lever extending radially from said shaft, a rod movable longitudinally on the frame transversely of the said lever, means connecting the rod and the lever, means for moving said rod in one direction to rotate said shaft and raise the pins and the first bar to a position along the cushion whereby the ball engages the bar in rolling on the table top towards the cushion, and a spring for biasing the rod in an opposite direction.

10. In a billiard-table, a frame including a top for the table having a at surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged above the table top by a ball rolling on the ilat surface thereof, said top having spaced vertical openings therein, a pin movably mounted within each opening, a bar connected to upper ends of said pins resting on the surface of said top and so positioned that the ball may engage the cushion above the bar and rebound from `the cushion without engaging the bar, a shaft rotatable in theframe, a transverse bar connecting the pins below the table top, an eccentric member carried by the shaft for engaging the transverse bar, a lever extending radially from said shaft, a rod movable longitudinally on the frame transversely of the said lever, means connecting the rod and the lever, means for moving said rod in one direction to rotate said shaft and raise th'e pins and the first bar to a position along the cushion whereby the ball engages the bar in rolling on the table top towards the cushion, a projection carried by said rod, and a pivotally mounted lever having a tooth engaging said provjection to maintain the bar in said raised posiwithout engaging the bar, a shaft rotatable in the frame, a transverse bar connecting the pins below the table top, an eccentric member carried by the shaft for engaging the transverse bar, a lever extending radially from said shaft, a rod movable longitudinally on the frame transversely of the said lever, means connecting the rod and the lever, means for moving said rod in one direction to rotate said shaft and ,raise the pins and the iix'st bar to a position along the cushion whereby the ball engages th'e bar in rolling onthe-table top towards the cushion, a projection carried by said rod, a pivotally mounted lever having a tooth engaging said projection to maintain the b ar in said raised position, a cam member for pivoting'the last mentioned lever, an

electromagnet for moving said cam, a circuit for supplying current to said electromagnet, and contacts in said circuit adapted to be closed by a coin for completing the circuit to the electro-` magnet.

12. In a coin-controlled billiard-table having a ilat surface, an elastic cushion adapted to be engaged by a ball rolling on the table, non-resilient means movably mounted on the table outside a path' of movement of a ball rolling on the table towards the cushion whereby the ball may rebound from the cushion, means for moving and maintaining the non-resilient means in a position to be engaged by the ball rolling on the tablel surface towards the cushion, and means operably responsive to the introduction of a coin for rendering said last mentioned means inoperative.

MODESTO VENERI. 

